Murray glad to be home

Jackson’s doctor here for Carnival

‘NO COMMENTS BEYOND CARNIVAL’: Dr Conrad Murray, former doctor to pop icon Michael Jackson, arrives at Piarco International Airport on Saturday. At left are son Che, fiancee Nicole and daughter Chanel. Murray was welcomed by his close friends, Karla Kalloo, right, and her husband Garreth. —Photo: AYANNA KINSALE

Mark Fraser

Caribbean-born Dr Conrad Murray, famously known as the doctor to late pop icon Michael Jackson, is in Trinidad for Carnival.

Murray, a cardiologist, and his family — son Che, daughter Chanel and fiancee Nicole — arrived at the Piarco International Airport on Saturday evening.

He and his family were welcomed by close friends Garreth and Karla Kalloo.

Murray, the Express was told, is a lover of Carnival and returns every year to Trinidad to celebrate although he lived abroad. This is his first return since he was incarcerated in relation to Jackson’s death.

“It’s always a pleasure to come home...I’m happy to be home,” Murray told the Express.

He said he will be playing mas in the band Bliss and will be in the country for two weeks.

“No comments beyond Carnival, we are here to have a good time,” said Murray when the Express was about to ask a question on his possible return to practise medicine.

Murray was hired by Jackson as his personal physician as he was preparing for his 2009 concert tour.

In June 2009, Jackson died of a prescription drug overdose where lethal levels of surgical anaesthetic propofol were found in his body.

On November 29, 2011, after a six-week trial, US Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor gave Murray the maximum four-year prison sentence, describing him as a “disgrace to the medical profession”.

Murray was released from prison last October.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan had told the Express that Murray can make a case legally to practise in this country as Section 40 of the Constitution guarantees citizens equal rights.

Garreth Kalloo, a former patient of Murray, said he hopes there is some way by which the doctor could be allowed to practise in this country.

Murray has taken legal action in the United States to have his medical licence reinstated.

“Dr Murray is a man who always help people; we need him here to help the sick and the poor,” said Kalloo.

“One of my workers died recently of a heart attack at the age of 42. Heart problems are plaguing the Caribbean and Dr Murray is a solution,” he added.